In My Corner to tell story of boxer, hoofer Joe Orrach

Footwork is everything for storyteller, pugilist and hoofer Joe Orrach, who works boxing, tap dance, percussion and music into his tale of a street smart, wise guy Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx who comes of age in the ring and at the barre. Jeremiah Chechik (Benny & Joon, Diabolique) directs Orrach in an exhilarating performance that takes off to the beat of an original Latin, jazz and rock 'n roll score performed on stage by a live piano trio.

"I didn't know what I was writing at first," Orrach said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle. "I cried over it. I had to smoke during breaks. There are poignant moments. Beautiful moments. And some not-so-pretty moments. But all I can say is that it's reality. It's my truth."

Joe Orrach hung up his gloves as US Air Force Welterweight Champ and started dancing on the street corner of Broadway and 72nd St. in New York City. There, Gregory Hines found him and brought him inside, giving him his start. Since then, Joe has appeared in theaters on four continents, on TV and on stage with Joan Baez, Bob Hope, the Smothers Brothers, Michael Davis, Liliane Montevechi, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Melissa Manchester and the Cookie Monster, to name a few. He has tap danced throughout the world with Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde and Savion Glover, as well as with some of the old masters like the Nicholas Brothers, Honi Coles, Charles "Cookie" Cook, Chuck Green and Lon Cheney.

Performances of In My Corner take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 p.m. and Sundays @ 2 p.m.*, Sept. 6 through Nov. 3. (*On Sunday, Sept. 8 only, the performance will be @ 5 p.m. with no 2 p.m. matinee.) Tickets are $30, except for the performance on Saturday, Sept. 7 which is $45 and includes a gala reception following the performance. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.